Humidifying device



Patented Jan. 7, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HUMIDIFYING DEVICE Application filed March 15, 1928.

This invention appertains to improvements in humidifying devices generally, and more particularly to a type of such devices usually employed for keeping supplies of tobacco,

5 cigars and the like in fresh, moistened state,

pending consumption. I

The principal object of the invention is to provide for a device ofthe class mentioned, and one of an extremely simple, compact and 1 inexpensive construction and arrangement of parts, which may be readily placed within a humidor or other receptacle to impart moisture to the air content thereof to prevent the drying out of tobacco, cigars or other ma- 15 terials contained within the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide for a humidifying device in the form of a relatively small casing or receptacle in which is housed a moisture retaining pad-or 20 the like over which circulates the air content of a humidor or other container, passing to and from the interior of the casing or receptacle through openings formed in the same for the purpose, and whereby the moistened 5 air will also circulate through the interior ,of the humidor or container and its contents, and thereby prevent the latter from drying out, the nature of the device being such that it may be positioned directly upon the contents of the humidor or container without fear of the same becoming unduly moistened or otherwise rendered unfit for use.

WVith the foregoing and other equally imp portant objects and advantages in View, the

invention resides in the certain new and useful construction and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, set forth in the appended clalms, and illus trated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a practical embodiment of the device, the same being taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 2,

Figure 2 is a top plan vlew, and

Figure 3 is a Vertical transverse section taken onthe line 33 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, the embodiment of the device, as shown therein, is constituted in a substantially box-like casing or recep- Serial No. 261,851.

tacle, preferably of metal and of flat, rectangular or oblong form, and comprises a lower body portion 10 and an upper cover portion 11, which is attached at one end of the body portion by means of a hinge connection 12. This cover portion 11 is preferably formed with a depending continuous flange which snugly engages over the outer sides of the opposite side and the front end wall of the body portion 10, but which has its rearhinged end portion disposed in line with the complemental end wall of the latter and overlying the same in a manner that the opposed edges of these portions are disposed in approximate abutting relation. The central portion of the depending flange portion at the front end of the cover portion 11 is extended in a downward direction to provide a tongue portion 13, which is shaped to function as a resilient clasp to snap over a projection or ri 14 formed in the complemental end wall of the body portion 10. For the purpose, the tongue portion 13 is formed with an outwardly depressed portion 15, which engages over the similarly formed portion or rib 14, while the free end of the same is slightly outturned, as at 16, to afford a finger grip to facilitate the opening and closing of the cover. Supported Within the body portion 10 a pad or wad 17 of any suit-able absorbent material, such as a strip offelt or the like, which is to be saturated with water, when ready for use. This pad 17 is preferably of the same general form of the body portion 10, but is of an area slightly less than the interior thereof, so as to have its side and end edges spaced at an appreciable distance from the opposed side and end walls of the same, whereby the air, to be circulated through the 0 device, will contact a major area of the moistened pad. To prevent accidental displacement or other movement of the pad 17 from normal position, during the removing or replacement of the device to and from desired operative position, the cover portion 11 is preferably formed to provide for a plurality of inwardly punched tongue portions 18, which depend within the body portion 10 and engage with the upper side of the pad 17, when the cover 11 is moved to closed posia plurality of other apertures 20, which may be formed by punching out, in their entirety,

- a desired number ofportions of the top .wall

thereof, these latter apertures being preferably circular in form and symmetrically spaced over the area of the top wall between the apertures 19, and in a manner so a free circulation of air will be permitted through the same overpractically the entire area of the pad 17.

In use, with the pad 17 enclosed Within the body portion 10 and saturated with water, as hereinbefore explained, the device will beenclosed within a container or receptacle (not shown), in which it is desired to keep the air content of the same moistened, when a circulation of the air will be established through the several apertures 19 and'20, in the cover portion 11, and over the upper surface of the pad 17. In its passage over the pad 17, the air will take up moisture therefrom and convey it out of the openings 19 and 20-, and circulate it about the interior of the container or receptacle and into contact with the contents thereof, thus moistening the latter sufli ciently only to keep the same in a freshened and usable condition, especially when the contents are in the nature of smoking tobaceo, .either in'granular .or. shredded state, or in the form of cigars or cigarettes.

As shown, the rear end wall of the body 10 is cut-away .to receivethe depending rear 7 end flange of the cover portion 11 in line with the same, while the rear end edges of the oppositeside walls of the body are shouldered, as at21, Zto give'clearance to the depending rear end flange aforesaid, in the opening a nd closing movements of the [cover portion 11. 7 It is also'to be noted that the v cooperating portions of the hinge connection 12 are preferably formed integrally withthe body and cover {portionslO and 11, and that the hinge portion of the body portion 10 is also preferably formed, in part at least, from the cutaway portion of the rear end wall of the latter. 7 e p Y Without further description, it is thought that the features and advantages of the in V the spirit of the invention or its scope as claimed. I c

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed is:

1 In a device of the class described, an

open casing, a-mo'isture retaining pad within said body portion, a cover forisaid casing, said cover being provided with a plurality of spaced apertures for the circulation of air therethrough and aboutthe exposed portions of said pad, and a plurality of evenly spaced prongs punched inwardly of said cover for penetrating engagement in said pad to hold the latter against accidental displacement from position within said casing, the openings formed by the in-punching of said prongs allowing for a further and freer circulation of air inwardly of said cover and about said pad. f ,p

'2. In a device of the class described, an open casing, a moisture retaining pad within said casing, a cover for said casing, and a pluralityof prongs punched inwardly of said cover for penetrating engagement in said pad to hold the latter against accidental displacement frorn' position within said leasing, the

openings formed by the in-punching of said prongs allowing for a circulation of air in said cover and about saidpad.

' Signed at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady and State of New York, this 12th day of March, 1928. y

DONALD W. MCCROSKY. 

